Burkina Faso’s military-led government has turned down a proposal from the United States to accept migrants deported from American soil, describing the offer as “indecent” and contrary to the nation’s principles of dignity and sovereignty.
The decision marks a direct rejection of one of U.S. President Donald Trump’s renewed immigration strategies, which seeks to send deported individuals to third countries — even those with which they have no prior ties — as part of a broader crackdown on illegal migration.
Several African nations, including Eswatini, Ghana, Rwanda, and South Sudan, have agreed to similar arrangements in recent months. However, Burkina Faso, under the leadership of Captain Ibrahim Traoré, opted to resist Washington’s request.
Speaking on national television late Thursday, Burkina Faso’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Karamoko Jean-Marie Traoré, said the U.S. proposal was unacceptable.
“This proposal runs completely contrary to the principle of dignity,” he stated, emphasizing that the country would not serve as a dumping ground for others’ migrants.
In an apparent response, the U.S. embassy in Ouagadougou announced the suspension of most visa services for residents in Burkina Faso. Going forward, Burkinabè applicants will have to process their visa requests at the U.S. embassy in Lomé, Togo.
Reacting to the move, Minister Traoré questioned Washington’s intentions, suggesting that the visa restrictions may be an attempt at political coercion.
“Is this a way to put pressure on us? Is this blackmail? Whatever it is, Burkina Faso is a land of dignity, not a place of expulsion,” he said.
Since seizing power in a coup in September 2022, Captain Ibrahim Traoré has positioned himself as a staunch anti-imperialist and Pan-African leader. His government has distanced itself from Western influence, particularly France, and cultivated closer ties with Russia.
Burkina Faso’s stance reinforces its broader diplomatic shift away from Western alliances toward greater regional and ideological independence.
